OCSA FOUNDER RETIRES & SUCCESSOR NAMED

After more than three decades shaping the landscape of arts education in Southern California and across the country, Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) Founder Ralph S. Opacic, Ed.D, (above) announced his retirement from his full-time position as the school’s Executive Director, effective at the conclusion of this school year. OCSA’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously this evening to appoint Teren Shaffer, (below) the OCSA Foundation’s executive vice president, as the school’s second President & CEO beginning July 1.

Read the full announcement here.

LAGUNA ART MUSEUM APPOINTS NEW LEADER

Laguna Art Museum has announced Julie Perlin Lee as its new Executive Director. Lee, currently Executive Director of Catalina Island Museum, will assume her new role on May 3. She succeeds Dr. Malcolm Warner, who led LAM from January 2012 through December 2020.

At Catalina Island Museum since 2016, Lee has led a period of growth including high-profile exhibitions and educational programs, and the completion of a capital project for the museum’s new permanent facility which opened in 2016. She is responsible for a significant rise in individual, foundation, and legacy giving, enhanced the care and quality of the museum’s collections, and increased Catalina Island Museum’s recognition and prominence.

Before joining Catalina Island Museum, Lee was the Vice President of Collections and Exhibition Development at the Bowers Museum where she worked from 2008 to 2016.

She holds a BA in Art History, MFA in Exhibition Design, and Certificate in Museum Studies from California State University, Fullerton.

Read the full announcement here.

Her husband is David Michael Lee, an artist, professor and gallery curator at Coastline College in Newport Beach. 

36TH ANNUAL IMAGINATION CELEBRATION TO DEBUT

The 36th annual IMAGINATION CELEBRATION will take place April 17-May 30. A collaboration between Arts Orange County and Orange County Department of Education, participating events (virtual and live with safety protocols in place) are listed on our SparkOC.com site here.

IMAGINATION CELEBRATION student poster art (above) contest winner is by Emeralda Espejo, a 10th grader at Santa Ana High School. "A Thought Outside of the Universe." Teacher: Judith Westing

FREE WEBINAR FRIDAY ON NEW STATE GUIDELINES FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES

California has issued new guidelines for the reopening of outdoor seated live events and performances.

A free webinar featuring Dee Dee Myers,Senior Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom and Director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz),

will be held on Friday, April 2 at 11 am.

Register here.

ARTSOC SEEKS YOUR INPUT

YOUR BEST RACIAL & CULTURAL EQUITY PROGRAMS

We are inviting OC arts organizations that have offered programs that highlight racial and cultural equity, diversity and inclusion to share that information with us. We are preparing to gather OC arts leaders to present innovative examples of such programs. Send a brief email to Rick Stein about your program so that it can be considered.

IMAGES OF YOUR ORGANIZATION'S WORK

We have "renovated" our website, and wish to showcase examples of the many outstanding arts and arts education programs in our community by inviting you to submit images to appear on the website. Email your submission to Nicholas Thurkettle.